You must apply for an ESTA online to enter the USA after 12 Jan 2009

Blue264

As I've stated previously, the initially announced deadline for phasing out the I-94W green form is July 2009. I actually think it's really sensible that they are allowing a good 6mth period for this change over instead of rushing it through overnight.

Marty_J

hansi wrote: »

Yes, I know how the system works, it's just that ESTA was designed to eliminate the need to fill out the green form in January. It's now May, and they still require the green form.

Well hopefully it means that once they phase out the I-94W, everything will work smoothly. The US has some 60 million visitors a year, so changing how they're processed at immigration is no small task.

January was when ESTA registration became mandatory for all VWP visitors, not when the I-94W was being phased out. The two were always going to be run side-by-side for awhile.

Nordictat2

Well my hubby and I are going to the US next week and usually we have no problem as I have an American passport and he has filled out the form etc needed for the "new" rules" so hopefully it will be like every other year with no issues.

alanrowell

Marty_J wrote: »

January was when ESTA registration became mandatory for all VWP visitors, not when the I-94W was being phased out. The two were always going to be run side-by-side for awhile.

ESTA is only mandatory if you are eligible for the VWP AND you are entering the US by an appropriate airline or shipping company. If you enter by land then you don't have to fill in the ESTA and if you are arriving by air or sea by some other means you have to get a visa in advance.

dorsetjohn_3

Hi
do i need an ESTA if arriving in Alaska by cruise ship , departing from Vancouver , Canada

dzug1

dorsetjohn wrote: »

Hi
do i need an ESTA if arriving in Alaska by cruise ship , departing from Vancouver , Canada

If your cruise line is a signatory carrier - then yes. Most are.

If they are not then you need a visa, not a visa waiver

omelette451

hansi wrote: »

The media also reported at the same time that passengers who had not applied for ESTA would not be allowed to enter the USA and would be sent back. They are always scaremongering

When the I-94W is withdrawn completely that will indeed be the case. Hence why they're using both simultaneously for a while, so as to avoid media flare-ups when people are 'unnecessarily' and 'abruptly' turned around at the border. It's actually very sensible of them when you think about it, especially if, as seems inherently likely, they're actually keeping records (unknown to passengers, of course, but done in secret by the computer system) of the proportion of VWP passengers entering who do have a valid ESTA so they can monitor compliance before it becomes mandatory.

In any case, it will be the responsibility of airlines to stop people boarding who don't have an ESTA, so in theory there should be no need to turn people back at the border.

omelette451

dontdoit wrote: »

It already is.

Yes, but at the moment they're still allowed to carry passengers who don't have an ESTA as long as they have reason to believe they're suitable for entry under the VWP. What I meant is that after the I-94Ws have been fully withdrawn, airlines will turn back anyone who doesn't have an ESTA.

GRIGGSY

I have tried to do a search but everything I tried came up blank - may be due to the fact that I am searching for the wrong thing. Any way I was wondering if anyone knew the answer to this:
I applied for Esta in Feb when I went to Vegas, I am off to New York this month so do I need to apply again or is the original still ok to use. My DH thinks we dont have to apply again and can use the original, but as the destination is different I would of thought you should reapply to be on the safe side - we put in the address of the hotel etc.

Thanks for any help

dzug1

GRIGGSY wrote: »

I have tried to do a search but everything I tried came up blank - may be due to the fact that I am searching for the wrong thing. Any way I was wondering if anyone knew the answer to this:
I applied for Esta in Feb when I went to Vegas, I am off to New York this month so do I need to apply again or is the original still ok to use. My DH thinks we dont have to apply again and can use the original, but as the destination is different I would of thought you should reapply to be on the safe side - we put in the address of the hotel etc.

Thanks for any help

Try the ESTA website - the answer is there staring you in the face on the front page. Well page 2 depending where you start.

And the answer is - you can use it again. All you of to do is fill in your application number (hope you kept it) DoB and passport number. It will let you update your flight and address details.